Two De La Salle College, Cronulla students, Lachlan Fraser and Caitlin Neckovski, are finalists in the 2018 Southern Sydney and South Regional NSW Training Awards.
The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services NSW to recognise outstanding achievement in the Vocational Education and Training sector.
The awards honour and reward the achievements of students, trainers/teachers, training organisations and large and medium employers.
Lachlan Fraser, 17, of South Caringbah, is a school-based apprentice who began his trade while completing the Higher School Certificate.
Caitlin is doing hospitality.
The apprenticeships enable senior high school students to combine their HSC studies with part time work, and formal training at TAFE.
Lachlan is eager to follow a career in construction – a trade that his father is also in.
As an Indigenous student, Lachlan has a vision to use his education to inspire other Indigenous students to complete their high school education.
He found that some Indigenous students chose to leave school early to begin their apprenticeships, but were unaware they could combine on-the-job training with the HSC.
“Eventually I would like to own my own business and [inspire] other Indigenous students to follow a school-based apprenticeship pathway,” he said.
Finalist will compete in the regional awards this month with winners moving to the NSW awards in September.
